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Press Statements (News Summaries), 9/25/1976
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The original documents are located in Box 18, folder "Press Statements (News Summaries), 9/25/1976" of the Michael Raoul-Duval Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Michael Raoul-Duval donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials. News Commond BERRED R. FORD LIBRARY The President's Daily News Summary FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 19 Leading The News FOREIGN POLICY Page HAK Ends Africa Mission, Ford Makes Statement AP, UPI, Nets 1 Soviets Widen 'Disarm Proposals C.S. Monitor 2 DEBATES Media Reaction Changes Needed in Debate Format CBS 3 Major Newspapers Give Mixed Reactions NBC 4 Issues Neither Man a Winner, Neither a Loser Boston Globe 5 Great Debate Boring, But Points Were There Boston Globe 5 Ford Won It on Points, But Who Is Listening Boston Globe 6 Ho Hum, It Was Dull, But Carter Had an Edge Boston Globe 6 The First Debates: Not Exactly A Winner Newsday 7 The Economy Dominant- and Most Divisice - Issue Boston Globe 8 In a Draw, Ford Benefited Newsday 9 Ford Plays President and Wins Round One Boston Globe 11 FORD/DOLE CAMPAIGN Issues Ford Courts Ethnic Vote AP, UPI, Nets 12 US Steel Special Prosecutor, SEC Probe Ford 1972 Campaign Fund CBS 13 No Reason for Jumping to Conclusions on Ford Detriot Free Press 14 CARTER/MONDALE CAMPAIGN Issues Carter Says Ford Distorted Tax Reform Proposals AP, UPI, Nets 15 Jimmy Carter's Project Days Wall St. Journal 17 Finances Carter's Street Money Stirs Election Panel Crackdown L.A.:Times 18 Playboy Interview Lust, But Not Least L.A. Times 19 ELECTION Strategy Race Is Close in States That Count Detroit Free Press 20 Tight California Race Could Help Ford L.A. Times 21 PRESIDENCY Tax Bill Full. of Weaknesses Milwaukee Sentinel 22 1 FOREIGN POLICY HAK Ends Africa Mission, Ford Makes Statement Secretary Kissinger wound up his African peace shuttle Friday with a warning to the Soviet Union not to meddle in the racial turmoil of Southern Africa. Concluding the 12-day mission , Kissinger siad, before leaving for Washington, "We believe that it should be in the interests of all countries to promote peace in Southern Africa. And we would hope that the Soviet Union would not, for the sake of idealogy or great-power rivalry, try to introduce an element of contention which must, above all, hurt the peoples of southern Africa and destroy any opportunity for peace." (AP) Travelling back to Washington, Kissinger heard excerpts of Ian Smiths speech announcing the transition of power to the black majority in Rhodesia within two years. Smith said the time for white majority rule has run out. He emphasised the transition is not what white Rhodesians would like but pressure. from the United States and South Africa left them no choice. Upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Kissinger told reporters. "We have made encouraging progress. We belive there is now a good opportunity for settling the issues of Rhodesia nad making progress toward negotiations on Namibia." (NBC) Barrie Dunsmore commented, "Kissinger is believed to feel it is important to move quickly now. He feats that if things drag on, the Soviets would be tempted to back one of the more radical groups. For its part, the US does not want to get involved with any of the factions. That's what happened in Angola and preventing a new Angola was one of the main objectives of his shuttle.' (ABC) President Ford met with Kissinger Friday afternoon and later told reporters, "The road is now open for an African solution to African problem, free of outside intervention, violence and bitterness. This has been the objective of the United States and the purpose of the skillfull and energetic diplomacy we have pursued. We call on other nations to support, not impede the African search for a peaceful settlement. " (CBS, NBC) Richard Valeriani said Kissinger insists he did not threaten Smith or put any really heavy pressure on him. President Ford thanked both British Prime Minister Callahan and Prime Minister Vorster of South Africa for their roles, but he never mentioned Kissinger in his formal statement, Robert Pierpoint reporter. (CBS) "The President did invite Kissinger to the Oval Office for a briefing, but Mr. Ford's use of the imperial "we" throughout his statement was a clear reminder that the next debate with Carter is on foreign policy and the first Ford moves have been made," Pierpoint said. -- AP UDT. FOREIGN POLICY Soviets widen disarm proposais By David K. Willis Washington thinks Soviet party leader Staff correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Leonid Brezhnev himself is promoting the Moscow treaty on mass-destruction weapons, but the The Soviet Union is following a careful, three-pronged United States objects to generalities that might strategy in the corridors of the United Nations as the current interfere with specific current negotiations on General Assembly session unfolds: other issues. E Apparently genuinely alarmed at the prospect of a perpet- Moscow also wants an immediate world dis- their foreign-aid program, which Western ana- C.S. Monitor, 9/24/96 lysts see as limited, political in aim, and hard- nosed. Pierpoint Kissincer to a made, Carter Pierpoint 1S on foreign said. policy and the first the Ford next debate with Media Reaction 3 DEBATES Changes Needed in Debate Format Roger Mudd and Eric Sevareid agreed Friday the first Ford-Carter debate was dull, and changes must be made in the debate format to enliven the following confrontations. Roger Mudd said both President Ford and Jimmy Carter were "over-trained, over-prepared, force-fed, and therefore, they were flat and dull. "The rules and the arrangements left no room for spontan- eity. The only non-scheduled occurence came as Gov. Carter was talking about a breakdownn in trust among our people. Thereupon there was a breakdown among the audio systems, and the sudden silence probably woke up a lot of voters." To enliven the format in future debates, Mudd said both sides are considering elminating the middle follow-up Q&A. Eric Sevareid that the length of the time segment for statements or rebuttal be increased, and that the number of reporters be reduced to two. In that way, he argued the quality of the debates would be improved. Sevareid also said that the candidates should be permitted to set the tone of the debates by making opening statments in- stead of responding to reporters' questions. --CBS (9/24/76) Media Reaction 4 DEBATES Major Newspapers Give Mixed Reactions In an NBC special report, the views of the newspapers in Atlanta, Chicago and Washington were reported. Mike Jackson, in Chicago, said one newspaper said Ford had done better than Carter in the debates but two other newspapers sàid neither candidate was really the winner. Polls of voters were equally ambiguous. One Chicago alderman polled the voters in his ward and found 70 per cent of them felt Ford had won. Another survey, done by a newspaepr, said Carter had done well enough to win the support of a number of previously undecided voters concluding Carter and Ford were about equal. In Atlanta, Fred Francis reported the Atlanta Constitution felt both candidates' may have won the debates. The paper siad Carter's problem was to show that he is not fuzzy on the issues and Ford's was to show that he is intelligent. The Constitution said both candidates made some headway toward those difficultiis. Onter Souther newspapers were not impressed. The Montgomery Advertiser siad Ford didn't knock over the podium and Carter kept his teeth under control. The Columbia South Carolina Record called the debate a crashing bore. John Cochran in Washington siad it all depended on which newspaper was read to determine who was the winner. The Washington Post seemed to give the nod to Presidnet Ford on the basis of the Roper Poll. The Washington Star, however, in their poll, gave Carter a 3 point edge. The Star also reported Carter won because Ford was put on the defensive and that none of the panelists was mean enough to question Carter on his interview in Playboy. -- NBC -- (9/24/76) , neither man a loser It was close. Neither man emerged fiscal records of the Ford and Nixoi a. clear winner. Neither committed a administration. Ford scored when hi fatal blunder. target was the Democratic congress. Descident Ford seemed th have the By David Wilson testants is the President. Carter scored with his attack on the economic and David Wilson is a Globe columnist. Great debate boring, but points were there The great debate last night did not As Carter's confidence mounted it really get off the ground until it was was visible in his style; he smiled occa- Carole Surkin Boston Globe, 9/24/7 but who was listening? It might have been the first time in have saved us from an endless assault of the history of American television that statistics, percentages and the assurance millions of viewers prayed for the that things would be terrific with either chance to see a Charmin commercial. A1- ouv in the Oval Office Tanu- Mike Barnicle Ho hum, it was dull, but Carter had an edge I thought the long-awaited con- well for him just as did the President's frontation between President Gerald tough assessment of the former Georg- Ford and Democratic presidential ia governor's stewardship during his ly: David arrell Administration as a "travesty" scored David Farrell is a Globe columnist. Boston Globe, 9/24/76 The First Debate: Not Exactly a Winner Anyone who tuned in the first presi- ten. Second, give the interrogators from dential debate expecting a flash of revela- the media further opportunity to chal- tion on how to vote Nov. 2 must have been lenge the facts and figures recited so pat- disappointed last night. The event was ly by the candidates. Newsday, 9/24/76 uon me serveu as vice president. DEBATES 8 THE ECONOMY DOMINANT AND MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE By Thomas Oliphant economy for general tax "evanescent as the morning Globe Staff reductions. People, he clouds over San Clemente." The economy. thinks, spend money more What's coming, the Presi- wisely than government. dent warned explicitly last Except for the way each Carter was the cautious night, is a whopping in- candidate looked and sound- liberal, lashing at Ford as crease in Federal spending / ed, it was the issue that another Republican insensi- that Carter, much less the dominated last night's de- tive to the unemployed, and Democratic-controlled Con- bate between Jimmy Carter insisting that government gress, will not be able to. and Gerald Ford, and the is- can act to reduce it by the control. The end result, in' Boston Globe, 9/24 By Martin Schram Philadelphia-Jimmy Carter started nervously administrative assistant, Greg Schneiders, agreed that Carter had started out "nervously." But the and timidly and finished strong. Gerald Ford start- Carter men went on to say that, as they saw it, ed fast and aggressive and tailed off slightly. Ford came off as "a wooden" and "ineffective." Last night's historic meeting of the presidential And Carter himself said: "On the very. first -: - 1. question T was sweating slimhtly but it was a tough any поре, - an even start. Ford, elated, told a group of sup- Newsday, 9/24/76 porters after the debate: "We're at a turning point in the campaign. From what I heard, we did all right in that debate tonight." 10 Homework E'll PAPER 1000 THE DETROIT NEWS Detroit News, 9/22/76 puys 1 resueni, id when Carter criticized Ford for cruelty to people and wins Round One use of the veto, Ford countered by saying that Frank- osevelt's average was 55 vetoes a year and Harry in's 38, and that Carter, as governor of Georgia, had By Robert Healy an average of 35-40 a year. Carter appeared vague again 00 Globe Staff his tax program, specifically on how he would balance the PHILADELPHIA - President budget, produce a tax cut and lower unemployment. The Ford hoped to project an image of President, as the man in charge of government, rattled off being presidential and in command. facts and figures. He did. In the wrap up, Carter reverted to the speeches he has And in the bargain, he aggressively been making on the stump - - that it was a. time for unity destroyed in debate some of Jimmy with a President and a Congress of the same party working together. that the nation had an inner strength and that him to the Democratic 12 Issues FORD/DOLE CAMPAIGN Ford Courts Ethnic Vote President Ford, described as "upbeat" after his first de- bate with Jimmy Carter, courted votes among Polish and Italian Americans Friday, Promising to defend the concept of ethnic neighborhoods. The President addressed the Polish American Congress, and shook hands with thousands as he walked through Philadelphia's Italian market. The President received a standing ovation when he told the Polish-American Congress that he will continue to work for a sovereign and independent Poland. Then defending ethnic neighborhcods, Ford said: "The family needs a neighborhood with local churches, local shops and local schools Some of the healthiest heighborhoods in our cities are Polish-American neighborhoods. (CBS) Phil Jones said the President was trying to look like the winner of the debates as he playfully inspected fruits and vege- tables in Philadelphia's Italian marketplace. Earlier in the day, the President told a crowd: "I feel great. How do you feel this morning?" (ABC/NBC) Bob Jamieson reported that Ford Campaign Director James Baker thought the President summation could have been stronger, but believed that Ford accomplished his goal -- a show of leader- ship a command of facts and figures befitting the President, and a willingness to put Carter on the defensive. (NBC) The ABC report, which led the news, included film of the President setting our on his day of campaigning, meeting with Polish- Americans, and inspecting fruit in the Italian market. Herbert Kaplow did a special ABC wrapup of the debate which included film clip of Ford's attack on Carter's lack of specifics, and Carter's attack on Ford for linking him to a Democratic Congress of which he is not a member. NBC's report, which ran fourth, showed film of the President leaving the Philadelphia home where he staved last night, and addressing the Polish Congress. Film was also shown of the President walking through the Italian market, and Jamieson concluded the spot outside the White House. The CBS story, which ran fourth included film of the President leaving in the morning, speaking to the Polish-Americans, and walking through the Italian market. -AP,LPI, Networks (9/24/76) 13 FORD/DOLE CAMPAIGN Special Prosecutor, SEC Probe Ford 1972 Campaign Finances (By Fred Graham, CBS) Watergate Special Prosecutor Charles Ruff has subpoenaed the financial records of the largest known contributor to President Ford's 1972 campaign, and one of his long-time most consistent contributors--Marine Engineers Union. The President of this union has been quoted as saying that the Special Prosecutor seems mainly interested in two Republican committees in Gerald Ford's home district. The Special Prosecutor has also subpoenaed these two committees' records. The Chairman of one committee told CBS that the records included several contributions from the Marine Engineers Union in the $2,000 range. The Special Prosecutor normally only investigates only political big wigs, and Ruff refused to discuss why he was looking into two obscure Grand Rapids committees. However, two former chairmen of Republican committees in Grand Rapids told Robert Schakne Friday that the Special Prosectors Office is asking specifically about Gerald Ford. Thomas Bloodgood, who was chairman of the Kent County finance committee in 1969 and 1970, said he was interviewed Friday afternoon by an FBI agent and another federal official. Bloodgood said the main thing they wanted to know was about contributions from the Maritime Union and whether any of the money went back to Ford-- whether any cash was given and was it washed and sent back to Ford. Eliot Seraphin, another former Kent County Finance Chairman, said the FBI asked him Friday if any money was forwarded to Ford from the finance committee. Both men said they told the FBI that no money was diverted to Ford. The SEC's investigation of. Ford involves a disclosure that Congressman Ford was the guest of U.S. Steel on at least five golking weekends, spent with U.S. Steel's Washington lobbyist William Whyte. Ron Nessen said Friday the campaign contribution matters were investigated thoroughly when Ford was nominated to be Vice President, and no wrong-doing was found. He said, "We haven't inquired about this investigation, and we don't intend to." --CBS (9/24/76) 14 U.S. Steel FORD/DOLE CAMPAIGN No Reason for Jumping To Conclusions on Ford THERE ARE A great many questions union that represents ships' officers working raised by the action of the Watergate Special the Great Lakes. and which made a hefty Prosecutor in issuing subpenas for the re- $7,500. contribution to Mr. Ford in his 1972 cords of the Kent County Republican Party congressional race, would appear on the sur- back to 1964. face to add even more reason for such conclu- as Since that Grand Rapids organization was sion-jumping. the funnel through which much of then-Con- But there is still too much that is unknown Detroit Free Drace 9/73/76 CARTER/MONDALE CAMPAIG Carter Says Ford Distorted Tax Reform Position Jimmy Carter Friday claimed that President Ford made a dozen inaccurate statements in their first debate including a "deliberate distortion" of Carter's position on tax reform. Carter rated his first debate with Ford a draw, although he conced that the President showed that "his experience exceeds mine. " (AP) Carter also acknowledged an error of his own, saying he made a mistake for which he is "truly sorry" in linking former President Johnson with Richard Nixon as an example of a chief executive who lies, cheats and distorts the truth. "That was an unfortunate juxtaposition of two names, " Carter said in reference to an intervie in Playboy. "It was a mistake and I have apologized to Mrs. Johnson, Carter added, explaining that he had meant to criticize the late President for the fact that the public was not fully informed about the Vietnam war. (NBC, CBS) Carter again defended his statements on sex and religion in the Playboy interview, saying he tried "to summarize in frank terms the fact I was a Christian, what the Christian faith meant to me, the fact that if I became President my strict religious beliefs would not cause to be condemn others that might be different from me in politics or among those who have commited sexual acts that I myself have not commited." (ABC) At airport news conferences in Philadelphia and Houston, Carter analyzed the Thursday night debate, saying he was "a little too reticent in being aggressive against the President" at the beginning of their debate. "I didn't know exactly how to deal with the fact that Mr. Ford was President but after the first question I felt we were equal. 11 (NETS) Carter said the President may have the advantage in the next debate on defense and foreign policy but said he thought he would win the third and final debates. (NBC) He said, "I think by the end of the three debates, I will win clearly. I think that will only be shown after the election on November 2. I believe that after the first Kennedy-Nixon debate there was only a one per centage point shift. " (NBC) Carter aides belive their candidate bested Ford when he pointed out what they termed administration failures to cut unemploýment. and inflation through a lack of leadership, but lost some when the President emphasized his governmental experience. They also said the Presidnet scored unfairly through what they called his deliberate distortion of Carter's remarks to AP. During his first campaign speech since the debate, Carter did not mention the encounter, but returned to his standard campaign theme of denouncing the President's leadership ability. (CBS) In response to a question from Sam Donaldson, Carter said he 16 CARTER/MONDALE CAMPAIG thought he had checked whatever drift or uncertainty may have existed in his campaign before the debates. "If Carter has still to win the election, there is a feeling in his camp that he is no longer losing it, " Donaldson reported. (ABC) ABC's story, which ran #2, included film of Carter speaking to reporters in Houston. NBC's #5 story, following the Ford story, ran :45. Two film segments were shown of Carter speaking. Most of the reports was reported by anchor John Chancellor. CBS's. story, running #6, included film of Carter speaking to reporters at the Houston Airport. -- PA, UPI. NETS -- (9/24/76) Jimmy Carter's Project Days By NEIL MAXWELL tionally carried something of a stigma here- PLAINS, Ga.-The tour bus, Plains' lat- abouts. est attempt to cope with the tourist crush Less than a year later. the Carters triggered by Jimmy Carter's candidacy. rented a spacious house nearby. Then they rumbles across the railroad tracks from built a comfortable home of their own. In the carnival that downtown has become. 1953, the young family conceivably could Wall Street Journal, 9/24/76 Election Panel Crackdown BY GRAYSON MITCHELL Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON-The Federal To receive federal matching funds Election Commission ordered a for the services, according to the crack-down Thursday on the report- Evening Tribune article. the Carter ing of political campaign expenses campaign suggested to the volunteer and an inquiry into questionable that he bill the campaign for his ser- fund-raising practices by the pres- vices. The campaign then sent the idential campaign of Jimmy Carter. volunteer an unsigned check for $500 L.A. Times, 9/24/76 riayboy interview CARTER/MONDALE CAMPAIGN THE ISSUE TO END ALL ISSUES Lust, but Not Least BY ELLEN GOODMAN BOSTON-Stop the presses. Pull out the the mind of the beholder, rather than the six-inch type: Jimmy Carter has lusted. And arms of the holder. more than once. I've never really understood sins of Who would have thought it? He comes thought. They raise so many questions. Is it from such a nice family. He seems to have lust to look? Is it lust to find someone attrac- been such a good boy. Even his grade-school tive? How attractive is okay? Is it possible to teachers would have never supposed that he lust after one's own spouse and is that 2 sin? L.A. Times, 9/24/76 20 Strategy ELECTION Race Is Close in States That Coun compensates by snaring other states which now BY LOYE MILLER JR. seem within Ford's reach. Free Press Washington Staff But for the president to upset Carter, he must WASHINGTON Despite his substantial lead in virtually sweep the large states across the board. national polls, Jimmy Carter's margin over Presi- dent Ford is much narrower in the populous indus- AS UNLIKELY AS this might seem, it is still far trial-state belt which is the key battleground of the more possible than many people realize simply fall campaign. because polls of both campaigns show the race in Strategists for both Ford and Carter agree that the big states to be surprisingly close. the presidency will probably he won hv the candi- In New York, for instance - a state which the Detroit Free Press, 9/23/76 Tight California Race Could Help Ford GOP Better Prepared Under New Rulings, Observers Say BY KENNETH REICH dications are that the 57% to 36% have done next to nothing to raise Times Staff Writer Democrat-over-Republican registra- milar funds on the Democratic side. SACRAMENTO-If the race be- tion edge that prevailed earlier in the Attemps over a two-day span to tween President Ford and Jimmy year will about hold. reach Manatt for comment were una- Carter in California is close-and po- A number of the political observers vailing. litical organization thereby has more interviewed pointed to an Aug. 31 As it is, there continues to be con- of a chance to count decisively in the letter to party committees from the cern on ths Democratic side that the outcome-Ford may have an edge. Federal Elections Commission as Ford campaign may be better orga- Interviews in recent days with having perhaps a highly significant nized than the Carter campaign in Adherents of the primary. hopes among Democrats of massive Democrate complained privately that Democratic gains in registration. but state Democratic Chairman Charles L.A. Times, 9/24/76 apparently these hopes are not being Manatt and other ranking members realized in full. Some preliminary in- of the party's California hierarchy PRESIDENCY Tax Bill Full Of Weaknesses Revision, not reform, is the word for the tax bill giv- families get credits of up to 10% of their earnings even' en final congressional approval by the House Thursday. if they owe no taxes. This is supposed to encourage The measure does little to change the now standard working families to stay off welfare but one can't help concept of taxation as a device for reward, punishment but observe that the basic concept of this credit is, in and political popularity. itself, a form of welfare, and worry about just how much it eventually will cost other taxpayers to keep However, President Ford has little choice but to sign people working. it. The government must meet Milwaukee Sentinel, (?@) ?&¢